[0001] This invention relates in general to photography and specifically to photographic
filter dyes that absorb infrared light and are useful as antihalation dyes in infrared-sensitive
photographic elements.
[0002] Photographic elements often contain filter dyes for a variety of purposes. Filter
dyes may be used as absorber dyes in photographic emulsion layers to improve image
sharpness or adjust photographic speed. They may be used as antihalation dyes, for
example, in a lower layer of an element to reduce halation in the image-forming layers.
Filter dyes can also be used as general purpose filter dyes for absorbing light of
a particular wavelength so that it does not expose or exposes at a reduced intensity
a lower layer in the element.
[0003] Filter dyes may be present in essentially any layer of a photographic element where
it is desired to absorb radiation in the region of the spectrum where the dye absorbs.
For example, they may be contained in an interlayer, a radiation-sensitive layer,
an overcoat layer, an undercoat layer, a backing layer, or others known in the art.
Absorber dyes (also called intergrain absorber dyes) are generally present in the
radiation-sensitive layers of photographic elements. Antihalation dyes may be located
in undercoat layers on either side of a transparent support carrying radiation-sensitive
layers. Such antihalation layers may also be positioned between two or more radiation-sensitive
layers in a multilayer element or as a backing layer on the side of the support away
from the light-sensitive layer.
[0004] Photographic elements are often used in conjunction with information-recording equipment
that exposes the element with infrared radiation emitted from a semiconductor laser
diode. For example, in the medical diagnostics field, digital information from equipment
such as computer assisted tomography equipment is often presented for viewing on a
laser-exposed photographic element. Such diodes generally emit electromagnetic radiation
having a wavelength of from around 730 nm to around 900 nm. A common laser wavelength
is around 800 nm. Other laser emission wavelengths are around 750 nm, 780 nm, 820
nm, and 870 nm. Photographic elements used in conjunction with such information-recording
equipment often require filter dyes that absorb in this region, for example, as antihalation
or absorber dyes.
[0005] In addition to absorbing light in the region of interest, a filter dye should leave
little or no undesirable stain after the photographic element is processed, so as
not to affect the image tone of the exposed and processed element. In many situations,
for example in the medical diagnostics field, a cool (i.e. blue-hued) image tone is
desired. Viewers often find such cool tones pleasing to the eye and conducive to the
reading of stored image information. A cool tone is often imparted to photographic
elements by incorporating a blue dye in the support or in a layer of the element;
however, this dye usually does not perform any other useful function in the element
and the cool tone imparted by this dye can be adversely effected by other retained
staining dyes. It would thus be desirable if a filter dye could be used that not only
provided the desired light filtration during exposure, but also provided a cool image
tone to the processed element.
[0006] According to the present invention, there are provided photographic elements which
utilize infrared filter dyes according to formula (I):

where
Z and Z′ each independently represent the atoms necessary to complete a substituted
or unsubstituted benzothiazole nucleus, benzoselenazole nucleus, indole nucleus, naphthothiazole
nucleus, naphthoselenazole nucleus, or benzindole nucleus,
R₁ and R₂ each independently represents alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or sulfoalkyl,
carboxyalkyl, or sulfatoalkyl of from 2 to 6 carbon atoms,
with the proviso that when Z and Z′ are sulfo-substituted benzindole nuclei, R₁ and
R₂ have at least 3 linear carbon atoms between the heterocyclic nitrogen atom and
the sulfo or sulfato group if they are sulfoalkyl or sulfatoalkyl, or at least 2 linear
carbon atoms between the heterocyclic nitrogen atom and the carboxy group if R₁ and
R₂ are carboxyalkyl,
Z˝ represents the atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted piperidyl
ring, a substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolidyl ring, and substituted or unsubstituted
pyrazinyl ring, and
X represents a counterion.
[0007] The filter dyes of formula (I) effectively absorb infrared radiation and also impart
a desirable cool image tone to the exposed and processed element.
[0008] According to formula (I), Z and Z′ each independently represent the atoms necessary
to complete a substituted or unsubstituted benzothiazole nucleus, benzoselenazole
nucleus, indole nucleus, naphthothiazole nucleus, naphthoselenazole nucleus, or benzindole
nucleus. These heterocyclic nuclei may be substituted by any of a number of groups
known to be substituents for such nuclei. These include sulfo, halogen (e.g., chloro,
fluoro), alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl) which may
themselves be substituted with known substituents such as sulfo or halogen, alkoxy
of 1 to 4 carbon atoms (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy) which may be substituted,
substituted or unsubstituted aryl (e.g., phenyl), carboxy, or carboxylate (e.g., methyl
ester, ethyl ester).
[0009] R₁ and R₂ each independently represents alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or sulfoalkyl,
carboxyalkyl, or sulfatoalkyl of from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. When R₁ or R₂ are sulfatoalkyl
or sulfoalkyl, they have at least 3 linear carbon atoms between the heterocyclic nitrogen
atom and the sulfo or sulfato group if Z and Z′ are sulfo-substituted benzindole nuclei.
When R₁ or R₂ are carboxyalkyl, they have at least 2 linear carbon atoms between the
heterocyclic nitrogen atom and the carboxy group group if Z and Z′ are sulfo-substituted
benzindole nuclei. Examples of alkyl groups useful as R₁ and R₂ include methyl, ethyl,
propyl, isopropyl, butyl, and isobutyl. It is preferred that when R₁ or R₂ are alkyl,
Z or Z′ or both be substituted with aqueous solubilizing groups such as sulfo, sulfoalkyl,
carboxyalkyl such as carboxymethyl or carboxyethyl, or sulfato. Examples of sulfoalkyl,
carboxyalkyl, and sulfatoalkyl useful as R₁ and R₂ include 3-sulfopropyl, 3-sulfobutyl,
3-sulfatopropyl, 3-carboxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl, 4-sulfobutyl, 3-sulfopentyl,
4-sulfopentyl, and 5-sulfopentyl.
[0010] Z˝ represents the atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted piperidyl
ring, a substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolidyl ring, or a substituted or unsubstituted
pyrazinyl ring. These ring structures may be substituted with known substituents such
as alkyl such as alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, butyl), which
may themselves be substituted with known substituents such as hydroxy, halogen, and
the like (e.g., hydroxyethyl, chloroethyl), carboxylate of from 1 to 9 carbon atoms
(e.g., methyl ester, ethyl ester), amido, sulfonamido, halogen (e.g., chloro, fluoro),
and others that would be known to one skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment,

where R₄ is selected from the group consisting of

where R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, and R₉ are each independently substituted or unsubstituted
alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl,
which may be substituted as known in the art with, for example, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryl,
or halogen).
[0011] X represents a counterion as necessary to balance the charge of the dye molecule.
The counterion may be ionically bound to the molecule or it may be part of the dye
molecule itself to form an intramolecular salt. Such counterions are well-known in
the art. Useful anionic counterions include chloride, bromide, iodide, p-toluene sulfonate,
methane sulfonate, methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate, perchlorate, and the like. Useful
cationic counterions include sodium, potassium, triethylammonium, and the like.
[0013] The dyes of formula (I) can be made according to well-known procedures in the art,
such as those described in James,
The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th ed., 1977, MacMillan, New York and U.S. Patents 2,895,955, 3,148,187, and 3,423,207.
A representative synthesis of a dye according to formula (I) is set forth below.
Preparation 1 Preparation of Dye 1
Step A - Preparation of 7-Sulfo-1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benz[e]indole (Intermediate A)
[0014] 1,1,2-Trimethyl-1H-benz[e]indole, 100 g. was added with stirring to 500 mL of concentrated
H₂SO₄. The mixture was heated at 180°C for 1/2 h, cooled to 60°C and poured onto 2
Kg ice. Cautiously 500 ml of 50% aqueous NaOH was added. After 24 hours at room temperature
the solid was filtered off, and 500 mL of saturated aqueous Na₂SO₄ was added. The
resulting solid precipitate was collected, added to the previously filtered solid,
and recrystallized from 2 L of H₂O. Yield 25 g after overnight vacuum drying at 50°C.
The location of the sulfo group was determined as being the 7-position by proton nuclear
magnetic resonance measurements.
Step B - Preparation of Anhydro-7-sulfo-3-(3-sulfobutyl )-1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benz[e]indolinium
Hydroxide (Intermediate B)
[0015] A mixture of 28 g of 7-sulfo-1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benz[e]indole (Intermediate A) and
40 g of 2,4-butanesulfone was stirred and slowly heated to an internal temperature
of 210°C over a period of 1.5 h. The reaction mass was held at 210°C for 20 minutes
until a homogeneous brown liquid was obtained. After cooling to room temperature,
the solidified mass was dissolved in 100 mL of boiling methanol. After cooling to
room temperature, the solid that precipitated was collected by suction filtration.
This solid was suspended in 500 mL of acetone with stirring. Filtration and drying
at 0.5 mm Hg overnight gave 35 g (85%) of light gray solid. The infrared spectrum
was in agreement with the expected structure.
Step C - Preparation of Dye 1
[0016] 2.1 g of intermediate B of Example 1 and 1.3 g 1-[2,5-bis(anilinomethylene)cyclopentylidene]-4-ethoxycarbonylpiperazinium
tetrafluoroborate were combined in 5 ml triethylamine and 20 ml dimethylformamide
and heated at reflux for 5 minutes. After cooling, the mixture was diluted with ether
with stirring. The ether phase was decanted and the remaining product was dissolved
in a 50/50 mixture of methanol and water. Excess potassium acetate dissolved in methanol
was added and the resulting precipitate was recrystallized from a 50/50 mix of methanol
and water to yield Dye 5 of Table III. λ-max=738 nm (MeOH), ε-max=15.34 x 10⁴.
[0017] The dyes of formula (I) impart a desirable cool image tone to photographic elements
in which they are incorporated. Image tone, and whether it is perceived as "cool"
or "warm", depends on psycho-physical reactions of human observers. Image tones perceived
as cool have a hue that appears more blue while image tones perceived as warm have
a hue that appears more yellow. This relationship between the blueness or yellowness
of the hue of an image can be quantified according to a relationship defined by the
Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage. This formula, identified as the CIE 1976
(L*a*b*)- Space, defines a color space where the quantity L* defines the perceived
lightness with greater values indicating lighter tone, the quantity a* defines hue
along a green-red axis with negative values indicating more green hue and positive
values indicating more red hue, and the quantity b* defines hue along a yellow-blue
axis with negative values indicating more blue hue and positive values indicating
more yellow hue.
[0018] The CIE 1976 (L*a*b*)-space is defined by the equations:
L* = 116 (Y/Y
o)
1/3 - 16
a* = 500[(X/X
o)
1/3 - (Y/Y
o)
1/3]
b* = 200[Y/Y
o)
1/3 - (Z/Z
o)
1/3]
where X
n, Y
n, and Z
n are the tristimulus values of the standard illuminant with Y
n equal to 100. According to the formula, a desirable cool image tone would be signified
by a blue hue, which would be indicated by more negative values for b*. A more detailed
description of the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*)- space can be found in G. Wyszecki & W. S. Stiles,
Color Science. Concepts and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulae, J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1982).
[0019] The dyes of formula (I) may be incorporated in any layer of a photographic element
where it is desired to absorb infrared radiation. These include essentially any layer
where it is known to use filter dyes, such as overcoat layers, undercoat layer, and
interlayers. The dye may be advantageously used in elements having other blue dyes,
either in the support or in layers thereon, to enhance the cool tone provided by those
dyes. Such blue dyes are well-known in the art. The dyes may be in a layer separate
from the radiation-sensitive layer(s) that is on the same side of the support as the
radiation-sensitive layer or on a different side of the support as the radiation-sensitive
layer. The dye may also be located in the radiation-sensitive layer as an absorber
dye, but is preferably not be adsorbed to the silver halide. The dye is preferably
located in a layer where it will be visible along with the image provided by the element,
but the exact location of the layer containing the dye of formula (I) is not crucial,
as the primary advantages of the dye, its infrared absorption and blue hue will be
present regardless of its location.
[0020] The dye of formula (I) is advantageously used as a J-aggregate so it is preferably
incorporated in a layer of the photographic element that is substantially free of
any compound that would cause the dye to deaggregate, as the molecular absorption
of the dyes is generally at too short a wavelength to be useful as infrared filter
dyes unless they achieve a shift to a longer wavelength brought about by aggregation.
Aggregation also helps to immobilize the dye to prevent wandering.
[0021] The dye of formula (I) can be present in any amount that is known to be useful for
filter dyes in photographic elements. The exact amount needed for the dye to be effective
as a filter dye will vary depending on the specific characteristics of the photographic
element, such as the speed and λ-max of the radiation-sensitive material, sensitizing
dyes, supersensitizers, and the like, and specific levels of effective amounts of
the dye would be well-known to one skilled in the art. The dye is preferably coated
at a level of from 0.5 to 500 mg/m².
[0022] The radiation-sensitive layer(s) of the photographic element of the invention contain
a radiation-sensitive component sensitized so as to be responsive to infrared radiation.
This radiation-sensitive component is preferably silver halide, such as silver chloride,
silver bromide, silver chlorobromide, silver iodide, silver bromoiodide, silver chlorobromoiodide,
and the like. Silver halide emulsions and their preparation are well-known in the
art and do not require further description herein. Silver halide emulsions and their
preparation are further described in in
Research Disclosure, Item 17643, December, 1978 [hereinafter,
Research Disclosure I], Section I;
Research Disclosure, Item 18431, August, 1979 [hereinafter,
Research Disclosure II], Section I; and
Research Disclosure, Item 22534, January, 1983, and the references cited therein, as well as U.S. Patent
4,425,426.
[0023] While silver halide is the preferred radiation-sensitive material for use in the
present invention, the element may utilize other radiation-sensitive materials known
in the art, such as diazo image-forming systems, light-sensitive tellurium-containing
compounds, light-sensitive cobalt-containing compounds, and others described in, for
example, J. Kosar,
Light-Sensitive Systems: Chemistry and Application of Nonsilver Halide Photographic
Processes, J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1965).
[0024] The radiation-sensitive material described above can be sensitized to infrared by
techniques known in the art. Sensitization of silver halide can be accomplished with
chemical sensitizers such as gold compounds, iridium compounds, or other group VIII
metal compounds, or with spectral sensitizing dyes such as cyanine dyes, merocyanine
dyes, styryls, or other known spectral sensitizers. Additional information on sensitization
of silver halide is described in
Research Disclosure I, Sections I-IV and
Research Disclosure II, Sections I and X.
[0025] The layer of the photographic element of the invention containing the dye of formula
(I) and/or the radiation-sensitive material also comprises a vehicle. Such vehicles
are well-known in the art and are described, for example,
Research Disclosure I, Section IX. These include hydrophilic colloids such as gelatin (e.g., cattle bone
gelatin, pigskin gelatin), gelatin derivatives (e.g., phthalated gelatin, acetylated
gelatin), polysaccharides (e.g., dextran); synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol,
acrylamide polymers, polymers of alkyl and sulfoalkyl acrylates and methacrylates,
hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates, and polyamides, to name a few. Although the dye of
formula (I) is generally immobile in the J-aggregated state, it may be desirable,
in certain instances, to use the dye in combination with a mordant, such as polyvinylimidazole
or polyvinylpyridine, to aid in immobilizing the dye. The technology of mordanting
dyes is well-known in the art, and is described in further detail in U.S. Patents
3,282,699, 3,455,693, and 3,438,779.
[0026] The layers of the element may be hardened, as is known in the art. Hardeners are
described in
Research Disclosure I, Section X. Typical hardening compounds include formaldehyde, vinyl sulfones, carbamoyl
pyridiniums, and formamidiniums.
[0027] The dye of formula (I) is generally added to a water, solvent, or mixture thereof
solution or melt of the vehicle to form a coating composition. The coating composition
may also contain a coating aid as is known in the art and described in
Research Disclosure I, Section XI. This composition is then coated as a layer on a support of the photographic
element of the invention.
[0028] The support of the element of the invention can be any of a number of well-known
supports for photographic elements. These include polymeric films such as cellulose
esters (e.g., cellulose triacetate and diacetate) and polyesters of dibasic aromatic
carboxylic acids with divalent alcohols (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate)), paper,
and polymer-coated paper. Such supports are described in further detail in
Research Disclosure I, Section XVII and
Research Disclosure II, Section XII.
[0029] The element of the invention can also include any of a number of other well-known
additives and layers, as described in
Research Disclosures I and II. These include, for example, optical brighteners, antifoggants, emulsion stabilizers,
image stabilizers, light-absorbing materials such as filter layers or intergrain absorbers,
light-scattering materials, gelatin hardeners, coating aids and various surfactants,
overcoat layers, interlayers and barrier layers, antistatic layers, plasticizers and
lubricants, matting agents, development inhibitor-releasing couplers, bleach accelerator-releasing
couplers, and other additives and layers known in the art.
[0030] The photographic elements of the invention, when exposed, can be processed to yield
an image. After processing, the dye of formula (I) will generally impart to the image
a blue hue characteristic of a cool image tone. This hue will generally be characterized
by a b* value of 0 or less. In other words, the dye in the element, if it could be
observed by itself in the absence of any other hue-imparting components in the element,
such as other dyes or the silver image itself, would have a b* value of 0 or less.
The actual observed hue of the dye will, of course, also depend on the a* value too.
Large a* values toward green or red may make the hue of the dye appear less blue;
however, for any given a* value, dyes having smaller b* values as do the dyes of formula
(I) will have a "bluer" hue and a cooler image tone than dyes with higher b* values.
[0031] Processing of the photographic element of the invention can be by any type of known
photographic processing, as described in
Research Disclosure I, Sections XIX-XXIV. A negative image can be developed by color development with a
chromogenic developing agent followed by bleaching and fixing. A positive image can
be developed by first developing with a non-chromogenic developer, then uniformly
fogging the element, and then developing with a chromogenic developer. If the material
does not contain a color-forming coupler compound, dye images can be produced by incorporating
a coupler in the developer solutions.
[0032] Bleaching and fixing can be performed with any of the materials known to be used
for that purpose. Bleach baths generally comprise an aqueous solution of an oxidizing
agent such as water soluble salts and complexes of iron (III) (e.g., potassium ferricyanide,
ferric chloride, ammonium of potassium salts of ferric ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid), water-soluble persulfates (e.g., potassium, sodium, or ammonium persulfate),
water-soluble dichromates (e.g., potassium, sodium, and lithium dichromate), and the
like. Fixing baths generally comprise an aqueous solution of compounds that form soluble
salts with silver ions, such as sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, potassium
thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, thiourea, and the like.
[0033] The invention is further illustrated by the following Examples:
Example 1
[0034] A photographic element was prepared according to the following format:

Comparison dye A:
[0035] 
[0036] The elements were exposed to a test pattern image with infrared radiation and processed
with a hydroquinone developer in a rapid access process, such as illustrated in Barnes
et al U.S. Patent 3,545,971. No halation was observed in the image in either element,
indicating that effective antihalation protection was provided by both dye 1 and comparison
dye A. The blue hue (b*) of the images at a density of 1.2 was determined according
to the CIE (L* a* b*) method using a standard CIE Source B illumination source. The
b* for the element of the invention with dye 1 was -6.6 compared to -5.0 for the comparison
element with dye A. This indicates a significantly bluer hue for the element of the
invention.
Examples 2-13
[0037] Elements were prepared according to the following format:

[0038] The elements were processed as in Example 1. The absorption of the dye was measured
before and after processing. The value for b* using a standard CIE source B light
source was determined for some of the processed elements. The results are presented
in Table 1.

[0039] The results in Table I show that the dyes of the invention absorb radiation in the
infrared region and also have a desirable blue hue.
1. A photographic element comprising a support having thereon an infrared radiation-sensitive
layer and a filter dye layer, which is the same as or different from the infrared
radiation-sensitive layer, characterized in that the filter dye layer comprises a
dye having the formula:

wherein Z and Z′ each independently represent the atoms necessary to complete a substituted
or unsubstituted benzothiazole nucleus, benzoselenazole nucleus, indole nucleus, naphthothiazole
nucleus, naphthoselenazole nucleus, or benzindole nucleus,
R₁ and R₂ each independently represents alkyl of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or sulfoalkyl,
carboxyalkyl, or sulfatoalkyl of from 2 to 6 carbon atoms,
with the proviso that when Z and Z′ are sulfo-substituted benzindole nuclei, R₁ and
R₂ have at least 3 linear carbon atoms between the heterocyclic nitrogen atom and
the sulfo or sulfato group if R₁ and R₂ are sulfoalkyl or sulfatoalkyl, or at least
2 linear carbon atoms between the heterocyclic nitrogen atom and the carboxy group
if R₁ and R₂ are carboxyalkyl,
Z˝ represents the atoms necessary to complete a substituted or unsubstituted piperidyl
ring, a substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolidyl ring, and substituted or unsubstituted
pyrazinyl ring, and X represents a counterion.
2. A photographic element according to Claim 1 wherein the dye is in the radiation-sensitive
layer.
3. A photographic element according to Claim 1 wherein the dye is in a layer other
than the radiation-sensitive layer.
4. A photographic element according to Claim 3 wherein the dye-containing layer is
located on the side of the support opposite from the radiation-sensitive layer.
5. A photographic element according to Claim 3 wherein the dye-containing layer is
located between the support and the radiation-sensitive layer.
6. A photographic element according to Claims 1-5 wherein the radiation-sensitive
layer is a silver halide emulsion layer.
7. A photographic element according to Claims 1-6 wherein the layer comprising the
dye is substantially free of any compound that would deaggregate the dye.
8. A photographic element according to Claims 1-7 wherein the filter dye layer comprises
from 0.5 to 500 mg/m² of said dye.
9. A photographic element according to Claims 1-8 wherein the support or a layer of
the element comprises another filter dye that is a blue dye resistant to removal on
processing.
10. A photographic element according to Claims 1-9 wherein

wherein R₄ is selected from the group consisting of

wherein R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, and R₉ are each independently alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms.
11. A photographic element according to Claims 1-10 wherein the dye is selected from
the group consisting of:

wherein R₁₀ and R₁₁ each independently represents alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms
or sulfoalkyl of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms having 3 linear carbon atoms in the chain
between the heterocyclic nitrogen and the sulfo group,
R₁₂, R₁₃, and R₁₄ each independently represents alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, and R₁₈ each independently sulfoalkyl of from 3 to 6 carbon atoms having
3 linear carbon atoms in the chain between the heterocyclic nitrogen and the sulfo
group,
R₁₉ and R₂₀ each independently represents H or 5,6-benzo,
Z˝ represents the atoms necessary to complete a piperidyl or a pyrrolidyl ring structure,
Y and Y′ each independently represents S or Se, and
X represents a counterion.